Australian conservationists have hailed a major win after a clutch of red handfish eggs hatched in Tasmania.
The resulting 21 hatchlings will play a major role in saving the critically endangered species from extinction.
"Despite being a small clutch, this is actually equivalent to a quarter of the known wild red handfish population in Tasmania – so it's very encouraging to have successfully bred the species in captivity in two consecutive breeding seasons," said researcher Dr Andrew Trotter, who co-leads the conservation breeding program at the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).
Trotter said the eggs took just over 50 days to hatch, and were cared for by their mother the entire time.
"Our aim now is to grow this year's hatchlings into healthy sub-adults so we can release them and bolster the dwindling wild population. Ultimately, we want them to breed in the wild," Trotter said.
IMAS threatened species and ecosystems team co-leader, Dr Jemina Stuart-Smith said the current red handfish will be held in captivity a little longer than usual.
"We're taking cautious steps around the release program for red handfish in light of the predicted marine heatwave off south-eastern Tasmania this summer," Stuart-Smith said.
"We're excited that the captive population and breeding program is making good progress, but there is more to do."
The CSIRO says there are 14 species of handfish, with seven endemic to Tasmania and the Bass Strait.
They are so named because they prefer to "walk" rather than swim, moving across the ocean floor with their fins.
A number of the species are considered to be highly endangered.
The spotted handfish (pictured) were the first marine fish to be listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) "red list".
Since the 1996 IUCN listing, a collaborative research program has been ongoing between CSIRO, the University of Tasmania, the State and Federal governments and the Derwent Estuary Program to conserve the species.
A number of other Australian animal species were put on the endangered list this year. Continue through the gallery to see which.
The pink cockatoo (eastern) was added to the endangered species list this year.
Australia's eastern states were once abundant with Pink Cockatoos, but now they are getting harder and harder to find.
The birds mate for life and raise two to three chicks a year, however, they are drastically dwindling in numbers due to habitat loss, such as woodland clearing.
Without hollow-bearing trees, these birds cannot raise or reproduce chicks.
They are now a part of the Threatened Species list.
The Davies tree frog, or Litoria daviesae, was added to the Threatened Species list this year.
These little frogs are native to New South Wales, and can be found along eastern areas of the Eastern Highlands, near Coffs Harbour.
They grow to be about 6.5cm small.
The destruction of its already limited habitat puts the Davie Tree Frog at risk of local extinction.
The reduction of water quality also poses a risk to these little guys, as cattle grazing and weed spraying impacts their supply.
The Davies tree frog is considered vulnerable to extinction on the Threatened Species list.
The south-eastern hooded robin, found in South Australia, New South Wales and Brisbane, became an endangered species this year.
The bird lives in wooded areas, with shrubs and native grass - however, habitat destruction has put the animal at risk of extinction.
Heavy cattle grazing in the homes of these birds also impacts their habitats.
The Manning River helmeted turtle has recently become endangered, being added to the threatened species list this year.
This freshwater turtle is native to New South Wales, and thrives in shallow riverbanks.
The turtles' population has significantly decreased due to nesting and habitat challenges.
Cattle trampling their eggs, the introduction of non-native and invasive plant species and wild prey have all contributed to the turtles' population decline.
Habitat destruction and climate change also pose a threat to the Manning River helmeted turtle, as droughts and high temperatures can be fatal for the species.
The red goshawk was upgraded from vulnerable to endangered this year, as deforestation continues to wipe out the species and their habitat.
These powerful birds have a wing span of 135cm and are mostly carnivorous, eating other small birds.
They are native to Australia, and cannot be found anywhere else on the globe.
The birds live in woodland and forested areas stretching from Western Australia to the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales.
The illegal collection of bird eggs has also caused the population to decrease, as it limits their prey.
The greater glider was listed as endangered in 2022.
The world's largest gliding marsupial has seen its population decline by 80 per cent in two decades due to logging, land clearing and catastrophic bushfires.
On the back of its endangered listing, conservationists called for Australia's nature laws to be strengthened.
"Australia will lose this species unless we strengthen laws to protect their homes and cease logging native forests," WWF-Australia's Dr Kita Ashman said.
"We must transition towards certified plantations if we are to give these amazing creatures a fighting chance for the future."
Greater gliders can glide up to 100 metres through forest canopies. They nest in the hollows of old trees and, like koalas, they mostly eat eucalypt leaves.
Prior the greater glider's listing, koalas had been the newest edition on the list of endangered animals.
In February 2022, then-Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley announced the species listing will be upgraded from vulnerable to endangered in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
It's estimated nearly one-third of the east coast population were lost in the three years from 2018 to 2021.
The numbat, Western Australia's emblem animal, is an endangered species.
The species were once found across much of arid southern Australia, however now it's estimated there are less than 1000 left in the wild.
There are only two naturally occuring populations, both are in south-west Western Australia.
This tiny species, found in remote alpine areas in New South Wales and Victoria, are critically endangered.
They're threatened by the loss of their habitat.
Two of the main populations in NSW are located inside ski resorts within Kosciuszko National Park.
There are fewer than 2000 left in the wild, and were thought extinct until their rediscovery in the 1960s.
Populations of the Eastern curlew are believed to have declined by 80 per cent over the last 30 years.
Habitat loss is the main driver of decline in the migratory, wading birds. They rely on intertidal mudflats for both food and habitat.
They begin their life in Russia and northern China before they make their way to Australia for the warmth of the summer sun.
While there are several quoll species in Australia there are fears we could one day lose the northern quoll entirely.
This species is found from WA's Pilbara region, across the Northern Territory to south east Queensland.
However they are being pushed to the brink of extinction by toxic cane toads and habitat loss.
This small trapdoor spider, less than 100 mm long, is endemic to Western Australia.
It was discovered by accident in the 1990s in a discarded bark sample. It's only known to live in two locations in the state.
Habitat loss is pushing the native insect closer to extinction.
There are believed to be only 50 of these critically endangered parrots left in the wild.
This species only breeds in the south west of Tasmania and then makes its way to southern mainland Australia for winter.
They are threatened by the destruction of their winter feeding habitats.
These carnivorous marsupials are only found on South Australia's Kangaroo Island.
The species is critically endangered and was pushed closer to extinction by the Black Summer Bushfires of 2019/2020.
Following the fires it's feared fewer than 50 individuals exist.
The southern cassowary is listed as endangered.
Found in Far North Queensland, the cassowary is often referred to as the "dinosaur bird" as its ancient relatives evolved shortly after the extinction of the mega-reptiles — about 60 million years ago.
It is large bodied, has fearsome claws, and a sturdy helmet — known as a casque — made of the same material as human fingernails.
It's believed there are fewer than 4600 of these birds left in the wild.
This small-shrew like marsupial is considered one of the rarest mammals in Australia. In fact, until 2013 we had no idea they even existed.
They favour high altitude open-forest habitats in central Queensland. Like others on this list, there are fears the catastrophic fires of 2019/2020 pushed the species closer to extinction.
They've often described as a "suicidal reproducers" as males of the species will mate until they die.